Jet regulator

ABSTRACT

A jet regulator ( 1 ) which can be inserted with its jet regulator housing ( 4 ) into the water outlet ( 2 ) of a sanitary outlet fitting ( 3 ) from a direction of the outlet end side and which, in the use position, is releasably fastened or fixed in the water outlet ( 2 ). The jet regulator is releasably latched in the water outlet ( 2 ). The latching device for fixing the jet regulator in the water outlet ( 2 ) is not visible from the outside and therefore also do not have an objectionable appearance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of German Application DE 10 2008 015869.0, filed Mar. 26, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference asif fully set forth.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a jet regulator which can be inserted with itsjet regulator housing into the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fittingfrom the direction of the outlet end side and which, in the useposition, can be releasably fastened or fixed in the water outlet.

It is already known for a jet regulator which is to form a homogenous,non-sputtering water jet to be mounted on the water outlet of a sanitaryoutlet fitting. Such jet regulators are usually inserted into an outletmouthpiece which can be detachably screwed to the water outlet of thesanitary outlet fitting.

Since the configuration of the outlet mouthpiece in designing thesurface of the sanitary outlet fitting may involve a considerable amountof expenditure, and since the gap remaining between the outletmouthpiece and the outlet fitting is often perceived as a problem, jetregulators of the type mentioned in the introduction have already beencreated which can be inserted into the water outlet of a sanitary outletfitting from the direction of the outlet end side without an additionaloutlet mouthpiece being necessary for fastening the jet regulator.

The aesthetic demand on the external appearance of sanitary outletfittings is ever-increasing. For example, outlet fittings have also beencreated whose water outlet is formed by a tube which is rectangular incross section. To be able to fix the jet regulator, whose shape ismatched in terms of its outline to the rectangular tube cross section,in the water outlet of the previously known outlet fitting, a set screwwhich serves as a retaining element is provided, which set screw extendsthrough a passage opening provided on the periphery of the fittinghousing and engages, with its end region protruding into the housinginterior of the fitting housing, on the jet regulator so as to fix thelatter. In order that the passage opening and the set screw which isscrewed therein do not adversely affect the external appearance of theknown outlet fitting, the passage opening is arranged on the flat side,which faces away from the visible side, of the fitting housing.

However, outlet fittings have also already been created in which thevisible side of the band-shaped fitting housing forms one of the twonarrow sides. Here, a passage opening which is arranged on at least oneof the two side surfaces and which is designed for a set screw whichextends up to the jet regulator could be objectionable.

SUMMARY

It is therefore the object to create a jet regulator which can beinserted into the water outlet from the direction of the outlet end sideand which can be releasably fixed in the water outlet without therequired fastening means having an objectionable appearance in any way.

This object is achieved according to the invention with the jetregulator of the type mentioned in the introduction in particular inthat the jet regulator can be releasably latched in the water outlet.

The jet regulator according to the invention can be releasably latchedin the water outlet. Since the jet regulator according to the inventioncan be releasably latched in the water outlet of a sanitary outletfitting, it is possible to dispense with an outlet mouthpiece which canbe screwed to the water outlet and which holds the jet regulator. Also,since no rotational movement is required for mounting and dismountingthe jet regulator according to the invention, it is possible for the jetregulator housing of the jet regulator according to the invention tohave a round cross section or if appropriate also a rectangular crosssection. Here, the fastening means required for fastening the jetregulator in the water outlet are not visible from the outside andtherefore also cannot have an objectionable appearance.

To create a comfortable, practical and resilient latching connection, itis advantageous if at least one spring arm is integrally formed on thehousing outer periphery of the jet regulator housing, which at least onespring arm, in the use position, engages with its free arm end behind anundercut on the inner periphery of the water outlet. The undercut whichis required on the inner periphery of the fitting housing can then beprovided in a particularly simple manner in particular if the fittinghousing is embodied as a comparatively thick-walled cast part, such aswill often be the case with a high-grade outlet fitting.

In order that the dismounting of the jet regulator according to theinvention is also as simple as possible, it may be advantageous if thefree arm end of the at least one spring arm is spaced apart from thehousing outer periphery of the jet regulator housing in such a way thata release and/or removal tool can be inserted into the free spacebetween said at least one spring arm and the housing outer periphery. Insuch an embodiment, the insertion movement of the release and/or removaltool which initiates the dismounting of the jet regulator is facilitatedsince the release and/or removal tool is guided here between the housingouter periphery of the jet regulator housing on one side and the springarm on the other side.

It is possible for the at least one spring arm to point with its freearm end counter to the flow direction. It is duly the case in anembodiment of this type that the spring arms are deflected radiallyinward slightly, and are therefore released from the latchingconnection, as a result of the insertion of a release and/or removaltool into the free space remaining between the spring arms at the oneside and the housing inner periphery of the jet regulator housing at theother side. In contrast, a particularly resilient and neverthelessstructurally simple, preferred embodiment provides that the at least onespring arm is aligned in the flow direction of the water jet emergingfrom the outlet fitting and/or with its free arm end in the outletdirection.

To make it possible for the at least one spring arm which is provided onthe jet regulator housing to be deflected radially inward, and releasedfrom its latching connection, it is advantageous if the at least onespring arm can, through the use of a pulling movement on the releaseand/or removal tool which can be applied to the outer side of the springarm, be acted on with pressure in the outlet direction in such a waythat the free arm end which is arranged opposite at the outflow side canbe deflected inward. In this embodiment, a pulling movement on therelease and/or removal tool is therefore converted into a radialdeflecting movement of the at least one spring arm from its use orretaining position into its removal position; here, the removal movementof the jet regulator is additionally assisted by the pulling movement onthe release and/or removal tool.

The transmission of the tensile force applied to the jet regulator bythe release and/or removal tool and the removal of said jet regulatorfrom the water outlet of the sanitary outlet fitting is additionallypromoted if a tool stop is provided at the outside on the free armsection of at least one spring arm, which tool stop interacts with therelease and/or removal tool in such a way that a pulling force on therelease and/or removal tool can be transmitted to the spring arm and tothe jet regulator housing which is connected thereto. Here, it is notstrictly necessary for each of the spring arms provided on the housingouter periphery of the jet regulator housing to have a tool stop of saidtype.

The release and/or removal tool may, with an end section which is forexample angled in the shape of a hook, be engaged in a particularlysimple manner on the outer side of the spring arm, which is to bedeflected for dismounting, if a run-on bevel which tapers counter to thepulling direction is provided, for the release and/or removal tool,upstream of the tool stop at the inflow side on the outside of at leastone spring arm. In this embodiment, the release and/or removal tool needtherefore merely be inserted into the water outlet beyond the run-onbevel before the release and/or removal tool can then be applied to theouter side of the at least one spring arm by means of the run-on beveluntil the spring arm is deflected inward and can be released from itslatching connection in the water outlet.

The insertion and retraction movement of the release and/or removal toolis facilitated considerably if at least one molded-out or molded-inportion with at least one axially aligned guide wall is provided on thehousing outer periphery of the jet regulator housing, which at least onemolded-out or molded-in portion interacts with a counterpart guidesurface on the release and/or removal tool.

Here, an embodiment according to the invention which is specified merelyby way of example but which is preferable provides that at least onemolded-in portion with axially aligned guide walls is provided on thehousing outer periphery of the jet regulator housing, which molded-inportion interacts with counterpart guide surfaces provided at both sideson the release and/or removal tool.

It is particularly expedient if at least one spring arm is provided inthe region of at least one molded-in portion.

If a plurality of spring elements are provided on the jet regulatorhousing, the spring elements may also each serve as latching meansindependently of one another. One particularly resilient design which issimultaneously easy to handle provides that at least two spring arms areconnected to one another by means of a tool stop or similar connectingweb.

One preferred embodiment according to the invention provides that the atleast one spring arm is of L-shaped design and a run-on bevel isprovided in the region of the transverse web of the L shape. Here, it isparticularly expedient if the L-shaped spring arms are assigned to oneanother in pairs and are of mirror-symmetrical design with respect toone another.

The features according to the invention may particularly advantageouslybe used in a jet regulator which has a non-circular, in particularelongate and/or rectangular outline.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the invention can be gathered from the followingdescription of the figures in connection with the claims. The inventionis described in more detail below on the basis of one advantageousexemplary embodiment. In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows a jet regulator on its inflow side in a perspective view,which jet regulator can be inserted into the water outlet of a sanitaryoutlet fitting and can be releasably latched there, wherein for thispurpose, the jet regulator has, on the outer periphery of its jetregulator housing, two spring arms which are connected to one anotherand which, with their free arm ends, engage behind an undercut on theinner periphery of the water outlet,

FIG. 2 shows the jet regulator from FIG. 1 on the inflow side in aperspective illustration rotated through 180°,

FIG. 3 shows the jet regulator from FIGS. 1 and 2 on the outlet end sidein a perspective, longitudinal section view,

FIG. 4 shows the jet regulator from FIGS. 1 to 3 on the inflow side in aperspective, longitudinal section view,

FIG. 5 shows the jet regulator from FIGS. 1 to 4 on its inflow side in aplan view,

FIG. 6 shows the jet regulator from FIGS. 1 to 5 in a longitudinalsection, extending parallel to the longitudinal extent of said jetregulator, through section plane VI-VI in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 shows the jet regulator from FIGS. 1 to 6 in a longitudinalsection through section plane VII-VII in FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 shows the jet regulator from FIGS. 1 to 7 in its use position,situated in the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting, in aperspective longitudinal section,

FIG. 9 shows the jet regulator from FIGS. 1 to 8 in a perspectivelongitudinal section, with a release and/or removal tool applied to thejet regulator,

FIG. 10 shows the jet regulator from FIGS. 1 to 9 in a perspectiveillustration with the release and/or removal tool applied to the jetregulator,

FIG. 11 shows the release and/or removal tool associated with the jetregulator from FIGS. 1 to 10 in a perspective view, and

FIG. 12 shows the release and/or removal tool from FIGS. 9 to 11 in afurther perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 10 illustrate a jet regulator 1 which can be inserted intothe water outlet 2 of a sanitary outlet fitting 3 from the direction ofthe outlet end side, in order to form a homogenous, sparkling, soft andnon-sputtering water jet there. To be able to fasten and fix the jetregulator 1 in its use position, the jet regulator 1 can be releasablylatched in the water outlet 2. For this purpose, two spring arms 5, 6are integrally formed on the housing outer periphery of the jetregulator housing 4, which spring arms 5, 6 engage behind a groove-likeundercut 8 on the inner periphery of the fitting housing which surroundsthe water outlet 2.

The spring arms 5, 6 are aligned in the flow direction of the water jetemerging from the outlet fitting 3 and are arranged with their free armends 7 in the outlet direction.

It is clear from FIGS. 9 and 10 that, for the purpose of dismounting thejet regulator 1 from the water outlet 2, a release and/or removal tool 9can be applied to the outer side of the spring arms 5, 6 in such a waythat the free arm ends 7 of the spring arms 5, 6 can deflected radiallyinward, and released from their latching connection with the outletfitting 3, by means of a pulling movement on the release and removaltool 9 in the outlet direction. The spring arms 5, 6 have, on their freearm section 7, a common tool stop 10 which interacts with the releaseand/or removal tool 9 in such a way that a pulling force on the releaseand/or removal tool 9 can be transmitted to the spring arms 5, 6 and tothe jet regulator housing 4 which is connected thereto.

From a comparison of FIGS. 1, 4 and 7, it is clear that in each case onerun-on bevel 11 which tapers counter to the pulling direction isprovided, for the release and/or removal tool 9, on the outer sides ofthe spring arms 5, 6. The release and/or removal tool 9 can therefore bepushed with its T-shaped tool head 12 beyond the run-on bevels 11 intothe intermediate space provided between the jet regulator housing 4 andthe inner periphery of the fitting housing, before running onto therun-on bevels 11, as a result of a subsequent pulling movement of theT-shaped transverse web of the tool head 12 in the outlet direction,until the spring arms 5, 6 are deflected inward and are released fromtheir latching connection. Here, the T-shaped tool head is pushedthrough the opening which is bordered between the spring arms 5, 6, thetool stop 10 and the jet regulator housing 4 until the tool head can bepulled along the outside of the spring arms 5, 6 to the tool stop 10.

In FIGS. 1, 4, 7 and 10, it can be seen that the spring arms 5, 6 whichare connected by the tool stop 10 are arranged in the region of amolded-in portion 13 which is provided on the outer periphery of the jetregulator housing 4. The molded-in portion 13 has axially aligned guidewalls 14, 15 which interact with counterpart guide surfaces 16, 17provided at both sides on the release and removal tool 9.

FIG. 1 illustrates that the spring arms 5, 6 are formed in an L-shapeand have the run-on bevels 11 in the region of the transverse web. Here,the spring arms 5, 6 which are assigned to one another in pairs andwhich are connected to one another here by means of the common tool stop10 are of mirror-symmetrical design with respect to one another.

The jet regulator 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 10 is designed as anaerated jet regulator in which air is admixed to the water jet. To beable to draw the air required for admixture into the housing interior ofthe jet regulator 1, an aeration duct 18 which is open in the directionof the outlet end side of the water outlet 2 is bordered between themolded-in portion 13 on the jet regulator housing 4 and the innerperiphery of the outlet fitting 3. The aeration duct 18 opens out in theregion of aeration openings 19 which are provided in the jet regulatorhousing 4. From a comparison of FIGS. 1 to 3, it is clear that the jetregulator 1 has a jet regulator housing 4 with a peripheral push-inopening 21. Here, at least one push-in guide 22 which is alignedtransversely with respect to the jet regulator longitudinal axis isprovided in the housing interior of the jet regulator housing 4, suchthat the insert parts 23 required for forming the water jet can bepushed into the push-in guide or push-in guides 22 from the direction ofthe push-in opening 21. To be able to form the water jet over the entirecross section thereof, the plate-shaped insert parts 23 extendsubstantially over the entire clear passage cross section of the jetregulator housing 4. It can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4 and 6 to 9 thatthe insert parts 23 which serve here as a homogenization device have ajet-forming sieve or grate structure.

A jet diffuser device 24 which is designed as a perforated plate isintegrally formed in the jet regulator housing 4 upstream of the push-inopening 21 at the inflow side. To prevent undesired leakage currentsbetween the jet regulator housing 4 on the one hand and the fittinginner periphery on the other hand, an annular seal 25 is providedbetween the jet regulator 1 and the fitting inner periphery. The annularseal 25 which is supported by the jet regulator housing 4 in the regionof the jet diffuser device 24 can bear sealingly against the fittinghousing without the risk of a deformation of the jet regulator housing 4in said region, since the jet diffuser device 24 serves to stiffen thejet regulator housing 4 and counteracts an undesired deformation.

It can be seen from FIGS. 2 to 4 and 7 that the push-in opening 21 ofthe jet regulator 1 can be closed off by means of a cover which isformed from a plurality of cover partial regions 26, 27 which areintegrally formed on the insert parts 23. Pressing projections (notshown in any more detail) can be integrally formed on said cover partialregions 26, 27 at the outside, which pressing projections act on thefitting inner periphery. As the jet regulator 1 is inserted, saidpressing projections are clamped between the fitting inner periphery andthe jet regulator housing 4 in such a way that the pressing projectionspress the cover partial regions 26, 27 against the peripheral edgeregion, which delimits the push-in opening 21, of the jet regulatorhousing 4 with a sufficient sealing action.

The insert parts 23 can be pushed with lateral guide rails 28 into thepush-in openings 22 which are designed at both sides as guide grooves.Here, the guide rails 28 and the guide grooves of the push-in guides 22form a dovetail-like groove connection.

A sieve or grate structure 30 is integrally formed on the jet regulatorhousing 4 of the jet regulator 1 at the outlet side, which sieve orgrate structure firstly serves as a flow straightener and secondly alsoconstitutes a manipulation prevention device which is intended toprevent unauthorized manipulation of the insert parts 23 situated in thehousing interior of the jet regulator housing 4.

It is particularly advantageous if the sieve or grate structures of theinsert parts 23 which are positioned in series with one another to bealigned with the gaps of the adjacent structures. Even if the insertparts 23 are of identical design, this is possible by means of a lateraloffset of the sieve or grate structures for example by approximatelyhalf of a mesh width. Instead, it is also possible to use asymmetricalsieve or grate structures which can be aligned with the gaps of theadjacent structures by means of a simple rotation of theidentically-designed insert parts 23.

In each case one ancillary sieve 29 is positioned upstream of the jetregulators 1 at the inflow side, which ancillary sieve 29 filters outthe dirt particles contained in the water.

1. A jet regulator (1) comprising a jet regulator housing (4) which canbe inserted into a water outlet (2) of a sanitary outlet fitting (3)from a direction of an outlet end side and which, in a use position, canbe releasably fastened or fixed in the water outlet (2) by a latchingpart.
 2. The jet regulator of claim 1, wherein the latching partcomprises at least one spring arm (5, 6) integrally formed on a housingouter periphery of the jet regulator housing (4), the at least onespring arm (5, 6), in the use position, engages with a free arm end (7)behind an undercut (8) on an inner periphery of the water outlet (2). 3.The jet regulator of claim 2, wherein the free arm end (7) of the atleast one spring arm (5, 6) is spaced apart from the housing outerperiphery of the jet regulator housing (4) in such a way that a releaseand/or removal tool (9) can be inserted into a free space between the atleast one spring arm (5, 6) and the housing outer periphery.
 4. The jetregulator of claim 3, wherein the at least one spring arm (5, 6) isaligned in a flow direction of a water jet emerging from the outletfitting.
 5. The jet regulator of claim 3, wherein the at least onespring arm (5, 6) can, via a pulling movement on the release and/orremoval tool (9) which can be applied to the outer side of the springarm (5, 6), be acted on with pressure in an outlet direction such thatthe free arm end (7) which is arranged opposite at the outflow side canbe deflected inward.
 6. The jet regulator of claim 3, wherein a toolstop (10) is provided at an outside on the free arm section of at leastone spring arm (5, 6), which tool stop (10) interacts with the releaseand/or removal tool (9) in such a way that a pulling force on therelease and/or removal tool (9) can be transmitted to the spring arm (5,6) and to the jet regulator housing (4) which is connected thereto. 7.The jet regulator of claim 3, wherein a run-on bevel (11) which taperscounter to a pulling direction is provided, for the release and/orremoval tool (9), upstream of the tool stop (10) at an inflow side on anoutside of the at least one spring arm (5, 6).
 8. The jet regulator ofclaim 3, wherein at least one molded-out or molded-in portion (13) withat least one axially aligned guide wall (14, 15) is provided on thehousing outer periphery of the jet regulator housing (4), which at leastone molded-out or molded-in portion (13) interacts with a counterpartguide surface (16, 17) on the release and/or removal tool (9).
 9. Thejet regulator of claim 8, wherein the at least one molded-in portion(13) with the at least one axially aligned guide wall (14, 15) isprovided on the housing outer periphery of the jet regulator housing(4), and the molded-in portion (13) interacts with counterpart guidesurfaces (16, 17) provided at both sides on the release and/or removaltool (9).
 10. The jet regulator of claim 9, wherein the at least onespring arm (5, 6) is provided in a region of the at least one molded-inportion (13).
 11. The jet regulator of claim 2, wherein there are atleast two of the spring arms (5, 6) that are connected to one another bya common tool stop (10).
 12. The jet regulator of claim 2, wherein theat least one spring arm (5, 6) has an L-shape, and a run-on bevel (11)is provided in a region of a transverse web of the L shape.
 13. The jetregulator of claim 12, wherein the L-shaped spring arms (5, 6) areassigned to one another in pairs and are of mirror-symmetrical designwith respect to one another.
 14. The jet regulator of claim 1, whereinthe jet regulator (1) has a non-circular profile.
 15. The jet regulatorof claim 4, wherein the free arm end (7) is aligned in the flowdirection.
 16. The jet regulator of claim 1, wherein the jet regulator(1) has an elongate profile.
 17. The jet regulator of claim 1, whereinthe jet regulator (1) has a rectangular profile.